WASHINGTON ‒ Health and Human Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday he will cut about 10,000 full-time jobs from the Cabinet department in a dramatic reduction that includes closing half its regional offices as part of a wider Trump administration overhaul of the federal government.

About 60 people gathered outside the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Friday to protest the mass firing of probationary workers and a move from the Trump administration to no longer recognize the union that represents VA employees.

According to HHS, the department will be downsized from 82,000 workers to 62,000 and reduce its divisions from 28 to 15, with the creation of an office called the Administration for a Healthy America. Regional offices will also be cut in half. The last time HHS had that many employees was 2002.

Meharry Medical College could lose millions amid proposed NIH cuts to research and Trump's mission to stop DEI programs. Jobs are also at risk.

Although the state has legalized the use of cannabis for specific medical issues, employers can prohibit workers from participating in the medical cannabis program.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends U.S. President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Kennedy says HHS has 100 communications departments, 40 procurement departments and “dozens” of IT and human resources units.

The Virginia Department of Health promises to continue 'overall ongoing work' in face of 10,000 Health & Human Services job eliminations